Data and AI for Decision Making
Drive organisational value and gain a strategic edge.
Data and AI for Decision Making Overview
Data and AI for Decision Making explores how leaders can strategically capitalise on their data and AI tools to gain a competitive edge.
Organisations have more data and AI tools than ever, yet many still struggle to turn them into better decisions and lasting value.
This program starts with the decision, not the technology. You will learn how to combine data, analytics, AI and human judgement; challenge misleading evidence; and ask sharper questions of dashboards, models and experts. You will also explore practical AI deployment options, build a custom AI agent and develop a roadmap that moves beyond isolated efficiency gains towards responsible and sustainable business value.
Lead with sharper judgement in a data- and AI-enabled world.
4.8/5
The learning experience received an average score of 4.8 out of 5.
4.8/5
The usefulness of the learning received an average score of 4.8/5.
4.9/5
The program directors received an average rating of 4.9/5.
70 NPS
Net Promotor Score in 2025.
Who Should Attend Data and AI for Decision Making?
Executive-level professionals
- C-suite Executives, Senior Managers and Department Heads from mid-sized to large enterprises.
Middle to senior level leaders
- Strategy and Innovation Officers, Consultants, IT Leaders, and Professionals with the capacity to influence change in their workplace.
- Leaders who wish to better understand the benefits of data analytics and how to embed a data-driven decision-making culture or organisations undergoing digital transformation.
Data and AI for Decision Making Key Takeaways
A decision-first mindset
- Start with the decision, not the technology, and judge what data and AI can and cannot contribute to making the decision.
Fluency in data and AI
- Understand in plain language how analytics, AI, and large language models actually work, so you can separate real capability from hype.
Sharper judgement about evidence
- Recognise the traps that mislead capable leaders: flattering dashboards, correlation mistaken for causation, and results driven by selection rather than substance.
Confident choices about AI deployment
- Weigh the practical options for putting AI to work, from public tools to private models, retrieval and custom agents, and the trade-offs each carries.
Leadership beyond efficiency
- Move your organisation past cost-saving pilots towards advantage competitors cannot copy, and build a culture where human judgement and AI strengthen each other.
Data and AI for Decision Making Topics Covered
The Analytics Journey: From Description to Prescription
Data, Intuition, and Judgement
Beyond the Dashboard
Thinking in Models: Boxes and Arrows
Correlation, Causation, and the Questions Leaders Should Ask
From Prediction to Better Decisions
Extracting Value from Data and AI Investment
Demystifying AI and Generative AI
What the Evidence Says About AI and People
Prompting as an Executive Skill
Data and AI for Decision Making Success Story
The Data for Decision Makers program was instrumental in showing our leaders how to leverage and unlock the power of data.
FRIEDERIKE HEINE
Luxury Division General Manager, L’Oréal
The MBS analytics program is a great opportunity for both leaders and the team to gain a firsthand immersion into understanding data and how it can be used.
RAYMOND LUI
Former Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, Bupa
Develop Data Analytics as a Strategic Enabler of Your Organisation
AI and big data are now the fastest-growing skills in demand, while 86% of employers expect AI and information-processing technologies to transform their business by 2030 (WEF, 2025).
Strengthen the loyalty of your leaders and invest in their ability to recognise, harness, and develop data. This investment will not only give you a competitive edge but also significantly enhance employee and customer acquisition and retention.
Volume booking discounts may be available for organisations registering multiple employees across a variety of our short courses over a 12-month period or talk to us about a customised version of this program tailored to suit your organisation's needs.
Organisations and individuals trust Melbourne Business School and the Institute for Digital Innovation & AI for their professional development needs because we always combine unparalleled subject expertise and academic rigour with a profound understanding of the contemporary business landscape.
YALÇIN AKÇAY
PROFESSOR OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Data and AI for Decision Making Facilitators
Professor Yalçın Akçay
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR OF OPERATIONS
Yalçın Akçay is a Professor of Operations at Melbourne Business School. He holds a dual-title PhD in Business Administration and Operations Research from Pennsylvania State University in the United States. Yalçın’s research expertise spans revenue management, dynamic pricing, inventory management, retail operations, and the stochastic modelling and optimisation of service and manufacturing systems. His work has been featured in prominent academic journals such as Management Science, Operations Research, and Production and Operations Management. At Melbourne Business School, Yalçın teaches Operations Management, Quantitative Methods for Business, Data-Driven Decision Making, and Optimisation across the MBA, Executive MBA, and Senior Executive MBA programs. He also actively collaborates with industry partners, applying his expertise in advanced analytics across a wide range of practical applications.
Professor Ujwal Kayande
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR OF MARKETING
Ujwal teaches Marketing Strategy, Marketing Analytics, Digital Product Management, and Business Analytics in MBA and Executive Education programs. He has delivered short programs on data analytics to over 2000 senior executives across the world. His research focuses on measurement and understanding market phenomena, including consumer decision making, firm actions, and competitive interactions between firms. He currently serves as an Advisor to L'Oréal, Forethought, Lauretta.io, and Zetaris.
Guest Facilitators
Christelle Young
INDUSTRY EXPERT
Christelle Young is the Managing Director of T2 Tea and a distinguished executive with extensive experience in strategy, transformation, technology, and data analytics. Formerly the Chief Data & Analytics Officer at L’Oréal South Asia Pacific, Middle East & North Africa, she has led significant transformation initiatives across 33 countries. Christelle is also an advisory board member at Melbourne Business School’s Centre for Business Analytics.
Greg Hill
INDUSTRY EXPERT
Greg is the Head of Data Strategy, Analytics and Insights at AustralianSuper and has been leading data analytics teams since 2009.His expertise lies in applying advanced analytics capabilities to solve commercial problems in marketing, supply chain, product management and pricing for retailers, telcos and financial services firms. Greg is passionate about connecting and developing analytics professionals with rewarding and high-impact work.
Institute for Digital Innovation & AI
Melbourne Business School is a national leader in business analytics and AI.
The Institute for Digital Innovation and AI (IDIA) at Melbourne Business School is a national leader in business analytics and AI. IDIA brings together researchers, industry partners, and students to advance data-driven decision making and support organisations in applying analytics and AI for impact.
Learn morePodcast: In Business with AI - The AI Roadmap
Melbourne Business School Dean Professor Jenny George sits down with Professor Jon Whittle from the Institute of Digital Innovation and AI to provide leaders with a practical roadmap for navigating AI.
From his role as technical lead at NASA to leading CSIRO’S Data 61 and creating Australia’s National AI Centre, Jon has been at the forefront of AI for 30 years.
In this episode, Jon shares why every leader has to be an AI leader, how to help your teams adapt to one of the most disruptive technologies of our time, the impact of AI on blue collar work no one is talking about, and why the rubber has hit the road for the costs of tokens.
Listen to the PodcastUpcoming Sessions
This is a non-residential program. The program fee covers tuition and meals during the workshop.
Read our full terms and conditions and other frequently asked questions for more information.
Program Enquiry
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AI and Data Programs Comparison Table
| Program | Leading Strategically with AI (Online) | Leading Strategically with AI (Face-to-Face Intensive) | AI for Business | Data and AI for Decision Making |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Senior Executives, Business Leaders, Leadership Teams | Senior Executives, Business Leaders, Managers and Decision Makers | Senior Executives, Business Leaders, Middle to Senior leaders and decision makers | |
| What is it about? | Senior Leaders charged with developing AI strategy | Leaders seeking a practical introduction to AI and Generative AI. | Leaders who want to use data, analytics and AI to strengthen judgement, make better decisions and create organisational value. | |
| Who is it for? | Senior Leaders, Business Leaders and Leadership teams (sector agnostic) | Leaders at all levels seeking a practical introduction to AI and Generative AI. | Senior Leaders, Business Leaders, Department Heads, Strategy and Innovation officers and Professionals able to influence change. | |
| Duration | 5 weeks | 3 days (non-residential) | 2 days (non-residential) | 2 days (non-residential) |
|
Mode (Location) |
Online (Virtual) | In person, Melbourne Business School | In person, Melbourne Business School | In person, Melbourne Business School |
| Program Structure | Weekly 90-minute facilitated sessions over 5 weeks, including pre-program AI diagnostic, practical assessments, Community of Practice access and post-program reconnect. | Three-day intensive program covering all core modules, including pre-program AI diagnostic, Community of Practice access and post-program reconnect. | Two-day immersive short course combining expert facilitation, practical demonstrations, case studies and hands-on exploration of AI tools and applications. | Two-day intensive program following the analytics journey from description to prescription. Combines cases, evidence, executive discussion, prompting practice and the design and testing of a custom AI agent. |
| Fees 2026 pricing |
AUD$2,950 per person (inc. GST) |
AUD$5,500 per person (inc. GST) |
AUD$3,500 per person (inc. GST) |
AUD$3,950 per person (inc. GST) |
| Focus | Enterprise AI strategy, governance, investment decisions and organisational transformation. | Understanding AI, Generative AI and automation to identify opportunities, build business cases and successfully implement AI. | Decision-first use of data, analytics and AI; evidence quality; human judgement; AI deployment choices; responsible use; and moving from efficiency to transformation. | |
| Topics |
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| Practical Outputs |
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| Learning Experience | Flexible learning with application between sessions. | Immersive executive learning with intensive peer interaction. | Hands-on applied learning focused on AI tools, technologies and business applications. | Applied learning combining plain-language explanation, business cases, benchmark evidence, prompting practice and hands-on AI agent design. |
| Inclusions |
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| Key Takeaway | Lead enterprise-wide AI transformation with a practical AI strategy portfolio. | Understand AI and Generative AI well enough to identify opportunities, manage risks and create business value. | Make stronger decisions by combining data, analytics, AI and human judgement and shape a responsible path from efficiency to organisational advantage. | |
| Dates |
12 Oct - 15 Nov 2026 2027 TBC |
27 - 29 October 2026 2027 TBC |
9-10 September 2026 25-26 November 2026 10-11 March 2027 14-15 April 2027 16-17 June 2027 8-9 September 2027 10-11 November 2027 |
TBC |
| Enrolment | Leading Strategically with AI | AI for Business | Data and AI for Decision Making | |
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